Esther 9-10, We Are In a Battle

What happened with the Jewish people is a great illustration for us in the fact that there is still a battle being waged.

·       Esther 8:4: With boldness Esther again came before the king.  Our daily success in battle requires that we come before our Lord daily.

·       Esther 8:5-6: She prayed not only for herself but for her people.  Our daily battle is fought with God’s people, especially the local fellowship from whom we find strength and encouragement.  You see that the Jews twice were said to “gather together” to battle their enemies (9:2,15; cf. Heb. 10:24-25).

·       Esther 8:7-8: The king had already made great provision for Esther; of course he would grant this request as well.  Remember, He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32).

·       Esther 8:9-12: The people counted on a letter written by the king that would give them authority in all the provinces of the kingdom.  So we are dependent on the Word of God through the prophets and apostles (2 Pt. 3:1-2).  That book reveals the victory that has already been won and the effect of that victory in life.  It was this letter that gave authority for the Jews to band together.  (On a completely unimportant point, v9 is the longest verse in the King James Bible.)

·       Esther 8:13-14: The document was for all people in every nation, not unlike the Bible, because the victory of Christ (the gospel) is for all the nations.

·       Esther 8:15-17: The people had light and gladness, joy and honor with Mordecai in the place of authority.  The king had given Mordecai the “signet ring” (8:2) which meant he had all the authority necessary for the good of the people.  He could provide them with anything they needed.  So, God has given us, in Christ, every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3), all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pt. 1:3), and has given us the Holy Spirit so He can remind us of what is available at the time it is needed (1 Cor. 2:12).  Christ has been given the signet ring by the Father: all authority is given to Me in heaven and earth (Mt. 28:18).

Chapters 9-10 complete the story of the relief and deliverance provided by the LORD.  It confirms the establishment of a feast called Purim (from the Hebrew word for “lot” since they rolled the dice to choose the days to kill all the Jews, Esther 3:7).  We have been in Israel more than once on Purim and I have to say it is a bit strange.  Everyone dresses as participants in the story, including, oddly enough, Haman.  Who wants to be Haman the Agagite, the portrait of Satan?  Then they read the story from the Bible.  And then all night long, in Jerusalem at least, there are sirens as the police deal with the behavior of drunk celebrants.  Go figure.